Commentary for Kiddushin 140:1
אין שואלין בשלום אשה על ידי בעלה אמר ליה הכי אמר שמואל אין שואלין בשלום אשה כלל שלחה ליה דביתהו שרי ליה תגריה דלא נישוויך כשאר עם הארץ
One must not enquire after a woman's welfare.' 'Then by her husband!' 'Thus said Samuel,' said he, 'One must not enquire after a woman's welfare at all.' His wife sent [word] to him, 'Settle his case for him, lest he make you like any ignoramus!' 'What means your traveling hither? ' he asked him.'
Daf Shevui to Kiddushin
R. Nahman wants his daughter Donag to come and serve R. Yehudah some drink. No go, even though she is a child.
R. Nahman then suggests R. Yehudah send greetings to his wife, Yalta. R. Yehudah, remarkably, believes it is improper to even hear a woman’s voice.
Finally, R. Yehudah believes it is improper to even ask after a woman’s welfare.
This source goes way beyond other sources regarding interaction between men and women. There are other sources that consider it improper to hear a woman sing. But this source considers it improper to even hear a woman speak. We should remember that R. Nahman does not seem to have even heard of these prohibitions.
R. Nahman then suggests R. Yehudah send greetings to his wife, Yalta. R. Yehudah, remarkably, believes it is improper to even hear a woman’s voice.
Finally, R. Yehudah believes it is improper to even ask after a woman’s welfare.
This source goes way beyond other sources regarding interaction between men and women. There are other sources that consider it improper to hear a woman sing. But this source considers it improper to even hear a woman speak. We should remember that R. Nahman does not seem to have even heard of these prohibitions.
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